The food was delicious and the service was 5 stars. I wish I could remember our chef's name because he was genuinely a great time and made the experience so enjoyable! The menu is a standard hibachi menu with the 3 course soup, salad, entree. The drinks left a lot to be desired but to be fair I didn't go for the Mai tai. This time around I did shrimp and scallops but I will be back to try their sushi and other proteins soon! read more

I haven't been to a teppanyaki in sooo long. Visited with a big group for a birthday. Since it was a weekend, even though we had a reservation, it was quite busy & a wait. We got there early but were seated ~10 minutes after our reservation time. Our chef was funny, and engaging even though our group of adults was preoccupied at times. I got the Steak & shrimp, the pricing was decent considering how much food you get. I enjoyed watching everything be made and everything was delicious starting with the soup. read more

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This place never disappoints for us. We ordered the steak, shrimp, chicken and scallops and everything was flavorful. However, we came for my son's birthday and they forgot to sing happy birthday so we left. read more

We had a wonderful time celebrating my husband's birthday here with family. Our chef and waitress both were very nice and friendly. The food was delicious and I had plenty of leftovers for the next day. My only complaint was they forgot my To go yum yum sauce read more

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I came here for a group lunch and ordered the hibachi steak and shrimp. It came with an onion soup and peanut salad. The onion soup had fried onions in it and was a nice refreshing soup with just the right amount of saltiness from the onion. The salad was sweet from the sauce but still savory. Fried rice was good, a little over salty with the butter. Vegetables were buttery but under seasoned. The steak and shrimp were cooked and seasoned perfectly. The hibachi show was really fun, lots of tricks and engagement with the party. Overall a solid place to head for hibachi. Food: 7.5 Staff/service: 8 Overall: 6.2/10 read more

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Food was meh at best. This place USED to be good but now it's not. Even the sauces don't taste the same. Never going back

My absolute favorite spot for hibachi in Richmond! The food is delicious, and the service is excellent. Reservations are easy to make, and the interior is lovely. It's conveniently located in Short Pump, and the staff is attentive and enjoyable to be around. read more

Kanpai - Steak & Shrimp Hibachi - Japanese Near Me - Richmond, Virginia

food was amazing! Would 100% get again!! Staff was nice, didn't wait too long. and enjoyed every second there! read more

Ok, before I say the best, I will have to try them again. Compared to others, they were top tier. Food was cooked to perfection, and it wasn't too salty. Thank you! The cook was rather entertaining, and he engaged the entire table. There was a slight wait but worth it. The setting was very nice, with the bar up front and away from the tables. However, be prepared to be distracted at the table. There are TV screens in the dining area. 10/10 recommend this spot read more

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Let's start with the actual restaurant. When you enter, it's definitely pretty dark inside. There are lights of course but they are dimly lit. As I was seated, I did note that there was a lot of rice on the floors around me, perhaps due to the kids that were eating at that table. The tables are shaped like the letter "U" and the cooks stand in the middle of the "U" cooking for each side. You sit with other people, so be ready for community style dinner unless your party has eight people. The service has been okay. We did not wait long to be seated. Our drinks and onion soup were served promptly. However, we waited quite a while for our cook to start our meal. I also had to request chopsticks, they only provided a fork. Side bar: I think they should put out and enjoy more people to use chopsticks cause it's cool. BUT good food come to those who wait. The onion soup was delicious with lots of crispy onion bits. The salad was VERY FRESH and tasted amazing with the ginger dressing. They provide you with two dipping sauces, yum yum sauce and ginger sauce. Then the cook makes fried rice in front of you. Full of butter and seasoning, the fried rice looked like it would be great, but I did need to add some soy sauce to mine. It was okay then. Next the cook sautéed mushrooms but those weren't for us. Sad too, cause they looked good. The cook then cooked the vegetables for us. The cook did a volcano trick with the onions, it was cute. The veggies were super yummy! Lastly the cook starts with the main course meats, bae ordered chicken and salmon, I ordered shrimp and scallops. The food was very tasty overall for what it was. If you're in the mood for hibachi, try this place out! read more

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Took my nephew here for his high school graduation dinner. The chef was great! He was super energetic and our youngest diner who was about 5 y/o enjoyed all the tricks the chef had to offer. The food was amazing. This restaurant is highly recommended. read more

Kanpai - Shrimp, Scallop and Filet Mignon Combo - Japanese Near Me - Richmond, Virginia

Tuesday 1/31/23 4:30pm I had a craving for hibachi! Thought I would try Kanpai in short pump. I was seated immediately. I ordered the filet and shrimp hibachi. I received my salad and soup fairly quick. I always enjoy the show at a Hibachi restaurant. Food was the bomb! Service was excellent. Although I went solo, definitely a good place to go for a date or family gathering. Only one complaint ... yep, if you have read any of my reviews, you know how I feel about the bathrooms. It just really tells a lot. The bathroom was filthy. So sad. I would've probably given this restaurant five stars but I have taken away two because of the bathroom. probably months of dirt, urine and dust. read more

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Really wanted to like this place but the service is TERRIBLE and they auto add 20% gratuity so they don't have to work for their tips. I asked for appetizer menu (never got it) ordered a glass of wine....had to ask the server for it....no refills and no one asked us how the food was. We spent over $300 here, oh and the bathrooms were dirty and gross with no toilet paper. Super disappointed.... read more

Excellent food and service. A must stop when you're in short pump VA. I got the chicken and shrimp, The food was very filling. The cook was very entertaining. Definitely would go again read more

Kanpai - Rice smiley face - Japanese Near Me - Richmond, Virginia

I came here for a team outing and had a good time. I always enjoy going to Japanese Steakhouses for the entertainment and delicious food. Our chef was energetic and really seemed to enjoy his job, which made the experience an enjoyable one. The facility was really clean and well kept. The dinner portions are really big. I ordered a combo steak and shrimp and was unable to eat it all. Thankfully the staff seems to anticipate that and has to go boxes ready to go. read more

Kanpai - a man preparing food in a restaurant - Japanese Near Me - Richmond, Virginia

This place rocks. Best Japanese steak house in the area to me. Always had a good time.

I once gave this place 4 stars... and honestly it's probably still the best hibachi place in town. The issue is, because it's the most popular, they've been jacking up the prices since before Covid19 Or inflation. Chicken & Scallops used to be about $25... it's damn near $40 now, what makes it worse is they're stingy with the scallops, 3 lousy scallops, you used to get 5. I even tried their most expensive dish, $60 Filet, Shrimp, Lobster... NOT WORTH IT. You get like half of the tiniest Walmart quality lobster, either that, or they serve the tiniest lobster in town. To add insult to injury, the owners aren't even Real Japanese... THEYRE KOREAN Half the time the staff is slow to refill water, the older chefs forget the recipe and the rice comes out meh This place has gone down hill... I need to find another hibachi place asap. So disappointed in the greed of this place. read more

Greetings Yelp Nation, The service at this restaurant was great! It was a bit pricey and but the food was delicious. I had the Fillet Mignon, and it was cooked perfectly. I always get my fried rice with no egg, it was good. The vegetables were good as well, I love the grill onions the most. This did an excellent job cooking for three people with shellfish allergies. My sister chose this restaurant to celebrate my nieces graduation, and it was the right choice. The ambiance is cool for occasions that are not that serious and lighthearted. If you want to have a fun date or a cultural learning experience for your kids this is a great restaurant. I don't know if it is intimate enough for a serious romantic date, but they could have more seating I don't know about. The waitress and personal chef was awesome! The personal chef did amazing stunts and tricks while cooking our food on the grill. He also told us jokes while he was cooking. I definitely recommend this restaurant to all! read more

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We have always loved coming here for birthday celebrations. Unfortunately we have found that the service feels very rushed and we were in and out within less than 40 minutes and we had 7 people in our group. I used to love the relaxed atmosphere that felt special and now it feels like fast food. For the price it should definitely slow down so each course is enjoyed. read more

Kanpai - the front of the restaurant - Japanese Near Me - Richmond, Virginia

I went here with a friend after work. we didn't get a seat at the demonstration tables but it was a Friday and it seemed pretty busy and we didn't want to wait. We opted for a booth. service was on point. the sushi was perfect. we were checked on frequently. and our entrees made us happy. I will definitely be back. read more

Kanpai - Fried rice and the seafood dinner trio - Japanese Near Me - Richmond, Virginia

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The service was very quick and the employees all seemed friendly and accommodating which I appreciate. The food was okay but I've had so much better in other states as this is our first Japanese steakhouse in Virginia. From what I seen the facility itself seemed clean but I did not go to other areas of the restaurant to investigate. There is plenty of parking as it has a dedicated parking lot. Now on to the downsides, first when we pulled up a group of four employees we out front smoking while touching their hair and faces with black gloves on. Once seated I seen the same individuals serving customers with the same black gloves, I am hoping they changed them but I'm not holding my breath. My husbands steak was undercooked and the shrimp didn't take that good. Expect the veggies to be very crunchy, which I do not mind but it was a bit too raw for my husband's liking. The fried rice required a decent amount of soy sauce to make it just taste ok. The salad and soup was good, but again I've had better. Overall I'm not sure I would come back given everything I stated above but seriously having to deal with all that for the price they charge, I just expected better. read more

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The food was traditional for a hibachi style dinner. The presentation was most enjoyable. The service was great and fast. Ambiance was very vibrant. read more

Food was ok. Chef (cook) was very disrespectful. When finish with the cooking everyone had something negative to say. While fixing our food he actually said he loves making people mad at his table. It was so bad we did not leave a tip. I have been going there for years, but tonight was the first time I ever felt this way. I'm also calling management. John read more

Dined tonight and it's been a while since we've been. Pros: service was good. food was okay- I felt it lacked seasoning overall. Cons: you feel like cattle being cycled through the restaurant. The overall cleanliness (floors, bathrooms ect) need some attention. It was our sons first time and the chef was very tame to say the least. It was overall a sub par experience, we'll be looking for a new habachi spot. read more

Always great service & amazing hibachi. The shrimp & chicken entree is a hit every time. Never too long of a wait either.

My review on Kanpai will solely be based on the full experience. From the time we arrived it was basic experience. My family took me for my birthday and my husband proceeded to bring cupcakes in and we were stopped at the door and said that we could not bring them in because there was an issue with icing on their floor previously and the icing stain the floor. So I would suggest if you want to go somewhere to celebrate your birthday and you bring a small cake or cupcakes that this is not this place to go. I think it took away from our experience, especially being that I was told by one of my friends that they went a couple of months ago and was able to take a cake, I'm not sure when this new policy went into place. Just be aware. To be honest, they could've brought our plates to our table with our food on it. The demonstration of cooking the food was basic at least. Experience was ok. read more

A family tradition is to do Japanese Hibachi for my birthday once a year. Kanpai was busy but we had a reservation and they sat us quickly. Everything else was quick too! Done in an hour. Get 'em' in and get 'em' out I guess . Food was prepared well but they really cut back on the veggies. Beer wasn't cold enough. Ok value for the money but it's a tradition so we will go back next year. read more

Went to hibatchi recently and had a good experience. Food was delicious with generous portion. No hibatchi "show" with the volcano, zucchini throwing or sake! Didn't ruin anything, but wondered why! They played a cute joke on a friend when leaving table. Overall good experience and yummy food!! read more

Kanpai - Menu/seating/ambiance - Japanese Near Me - Richmond, Virginia

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This place is clean and one of the better hibachi grills in Richmond. Large venue and no sticky floors. My hibachi show was mostly 'singing' and rhythmic clanking of the seasoning tins, but that was my only damper. The food is average - if the chef had added maybe a smidgeon more of salt/garlic/sauce it could've been above average. The cleanliness and space make up for it all though. The staff is attentive and friendly. I did order a to-go sushi order which took some time and the presentation of the sushi was just okay - nothing from a magazine. They have only one veggie option (which includes mushroom and carrots as your 'meat' for the vegan patrons) The YUM YUM sauce and ginger dressing has dairy so don't eat that if you are plant based. For my salad I requested vinegar and a lemon instead of their dairy based dressing. I'd go back here. read more

They cooked the rice first and put it on your cold plate, then the vegetables and meat last. It's backwards. At least keep the food on the grill until ready to plate. Then the chef put shrimp on my plate and I don't eat shrimp. It was gross. One member ordered only chicken and only got one portion. Her plate was skimpy and everyone else had a full plate. The yum yum sauce was thinned out and runny. Wear a jacket and socks it's freezing in there. It's really overpriced for what you get. No senior menu either and no sharing. Vegetables are mostly zucchini and onion with a sprinkle of broccoli. Cheap! Lots if cold rice to fill the plate. read more

This is my favorite hibachi place in the area. The chefs always put on a great show and the food is always delicious and consistent. Their fried rice is top tier especially when slathered in yum yum sauce. I usually get either the teriyaki steak or filet mignon and it is always so tender and juicy. I always have a great time and the staff is fabulous. read more

Waiters are very attentive and the cook was funny and entertaining. Definitely recommend trying it out!

I really wanted to leave this place a higher rating, but the lack of consistency made them lose the stars. We checked the website before driving to the restaurant and it stated their lunch ended at 2:00 p.m. We arrived at 1:33 p.m. and the doors were locked! We call the number and a lady stated that they had their last seating at 1:30 and took their last orders at 1:30 for take out. Eventually, she let us in after we let her know we had checked the website and had driven 30 minutes to the restaurant. I ordered the beef and shrimp combo because there is no appetizer with the lunch specials. After we had ordered finally, people came in for dining inside the restaurant! During the wait, more people came in to either pick up or place orders while we were there. It was super weird. We got our food in about 15 minutes and it was decent. Soup was tiny, salad was only lettuce with tasty dressing. Shrimp... basic. The best part was the steak, despite being over cooked, it was tender and delicious. Sadly, the rice didn't have any tastes at all. I was pretty bummed about this experience since I had been drooling at their pictures for such a long time. read more

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Went for birthday dinner. Did not deliver an entee for one of us despite being reminded 3x. We have been there over 20x. The manager ahole charged us for eating rice $14 on the meal despite not delivering an entree. We were shocked that a manager would not deliver and then punish the customer. Needless to day we will never go back. Bad managers can kill a resturant. Also the quality and quantity of food was substantially reduced where you got several different vegetables, now it was a small heap of onions and squash. Horrible. Chef also had little experience and it was obvious. read more

Kanpai - Japanese Near Me - Richmond, Virginia

Saki and scallops! Chase was our chef! He was AMAZING! He was engaging and funny! He made us all laugh. Food was great. The yum yum sauce was super good. I would love that in a bottle. Overall a great place. read more

Kanpai - Saki - Japanese Near Me - Richmond, Virginia

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Went here for dinner with our daughter, son-in-law and grandkids. I've always enjoyed hibachi grills, and the little show put on by the staff. This one was no exception. The kids enjoyed the show, and I thought the food was pretty good, albeit just like all the other hibachi grills. I had shrimp & chicken, and my wife just chicken. The fried rice was one of my favorites. This place seemed a bit pricey, but then everything is anymore. I would come back with friends or family in the future. read more

The front host Brianna was extremely rude. She made my visit very uncomfortable. I was just getting over being sick and I normally can sit in a booth and order hibachi. They changed the rules which was fine. I asked to speak to a manager she refused to get one but pointed me to the bar to Lee Lee who also isn't a manager. They sat me at a table and then removed me because I didn't sit in the seat they wanted me to sit in. The customer service isn't what it was a few years ago. I wouldn't recommend going here if you are dining alone. read more

Always a fun experience. Food is delicious and portions are generous. As with any hibachi restaurant, the show is dependent on your chef and based on the consistent cheer throughout the Dining area not an issue, so good news there! My only complaint...I almost felt rushed. Dinner for 5 and they had a check in my hand in less than an hour. read more

I have been to a lot of hibachi restaurants over the years and this one was the worst. We picked it for its decent ratings but were truly disappointed. First we were seated fast I sat my purse down then went to the restroom I literally had just sat down and the server was like are you ready to order I said no she literally came back a minute later and was like now? I'm guessing the folks at the other end of the table had been waiting for a while so that's what the rush was for. Soup was already there when I got back from the restroom and was lukewarm then came the salad which at most Japanese restaurants they ask if the ginger dressing is ok, well not this one and my husband was served a salad with the ginger dressing. Which he hates. Then comes the cook he cooked the rice and burnt the eggs which smelt gross the whole time he's cooking the entire meal he's looking around at the other tables so we got no show at all. Just a lousy cook. No personality at all. The rice had no flavor, I had to use soy sauce and the yum yum sauce to give it a taste. The vegetables were crunchy and flavorless as well. My husband and I were served 3 chicken tenders cut up in chunks he kept cutting them smaller to make it look like more. The cook only cooked one item at a time by the end of the meal we were eating our chicken if we would have waited to eat the rice and vegetables they would have been ice cold. The waitress never came back and asked if we needed anything or how everything was. It was overpriced. I will never go back here again. read more

I went in to dine and strike one was the horrible condition of the bathroom. It's dirty and old. Considering the cost of food there, they should certainly be able to upgrade the restroom. Strike two came when seated. The chair was so weak, my husband almost fell. He opted to move it and got himself another chair. We proceeded to order and we asked for no onions. I was told we could only select broccoli or zucchini, but not mixed which threw me off since we did not want onions. This has never been an issue in the past. So for a $40 meal, I can't get both? It's not like I am not paying for it. I asked the server for the manager. Strike three was Lydia the manger who had a matter of fact, uncompromising demeanor. I express that this policy made no sense as she kept referring to portion size. Well how much onions are you really giving out??? Never mind the fact that I am the consumer and you were not willing to accommodate. I asked for the owners info and she huffed, snickered and walked away. I will never go to Kanpai again and I urge you not to. Service poor, cleanliness poor, no business license displayed for customer view, and poor management. read more